Outlet construction for hopper car



G. B. DOREY 2,926,963

OUTLET CONSTRUCTION FOR HOPPER CAR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 1, 1960 Filed Oct. 20. 1958 I Q h J:-

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f g INVENTOR. 157 Z70r George e g March 1, 1960 a. B. DOREY oumzw CONSTRUCTION FOR HOPPER CAR Fil ed Oct. 20. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 7 1, 1960 G. B. DOREY OUTLET CONSTRUCTION FOR' HOPPER CAR Filed Oct. 20. 1958 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

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United StatesPatent O OUTLET CONSTRUCTION FOR HOPPER CAR George B. Dorey, Westmount, Quebec, Canada, asslgnor to Enterprise Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 20, 1958, Serial No. 768,410

10 Claims. 302-52) This invention relates to an improved type of selective pneumatic and gravity unloading hopper car and relates more specifically to that type of railway hopper car having a discharge opening and a sliding closure therefor with provision for pneumatic discharge.

r The objects of the invention, among others, are: To

provide an improved and simplified structure to allow for selectively unloading either pneumatically or by gravity as may be desired without any prearrangement of parts at the loading station. In cars of the identified type it. has heretofore been proposed to provide a suction system incorporating air inlet and lading exit openings with special regulating closure means for volumetric control of entering air. The employment of an air inlet opening with its associated controlling means involves the addition of costly mechanical expedients and requires provision against unauthorized tempering. It is now proposed to dispense with this auxiliary inlet closure and arrange for controlling the admission of air by means of the gravity sliding closure.

The invention resides in certain details of construction associated with the improvement and in the method whereby the desired object is attained.

For further comprehension of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein the improvement is shown as applied to a railway hopper car of the type referred to.

In. said drawings: M 3

Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view taken through the lower, portion of a hopper car showing approximately one half the width of the car. a r a Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the lower portion of the structure shown in Figure 1, as viewed from left to right. i

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the construction shown in Figure 2 with certain parts of the hopper walls broken away to better illustrate the structure and the gate being omitted.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through the hopper and on a line 44 of Figure 2, showing the sanitary plate in position. Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view as taken at a location corresponding to a line 55 of Figure 3 and showing the closure in partly open position and partially uncovering the air inlet opening and showing the filter screen in position.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be observed in 'Figure 1 that the present invention is applied to a railway hopper car with portions of the car being indicated by a center sill and spaced outwardly therefrom by one sidewall 11. Between the center sill 10 and the side wall 11 there is a hopper which is indicated, generally, at 12. It will be understood that two or more pairs of hoppers, such as the hopper 12, are located on opposite sides of the center sill 10. Since the construction for each hopper 12 is identical, only one is shown. The hopper 12 is formed by oppositely sloping floors 13 and Hand outer and inner ,side walls and 16 h fl r 13 and 14 and side walls 15 and 16 are joined to form a rectangular opening 17 through which lading in the hopper 12 can flow downwardly under the influence of gravity.

Surrounding the discharge opening 17 at the lower margins of the oppositely sloping floors 13 and 14 and side walls 15 and 16 is a frame which is indicated, generally, at 18. The frame 18 can be formed of cast metal or can be fabricated of rolled structural members. It is secured by riveting or welding to the lower margin of the oppositely sloping floors 13 and 14 and side walls 15 and 16. It will be observed that the frame 18 includes upper walls 19 and 20 which overlie the oppositely sloping floors 13 and 14. Also the frame 18 includes upper walls 21 and 22 which overlie the outer and inner side walls 15 and 16 respectively. Below the upper walls 19, 21 and 22 are lower walls 23, 25 and 26 respectively which form a three-sided enclosure for a sliding gate 27. In order to slidably support the gate 27 and hold it in closed position where discharge of lading through the discharge opening 17 is prevented, ledges 29, 31 and 32 are provided which extend from the lower walls 23, 25 and 26 respectively. It will be understood that the gate 27 is slidably supported on ledges 31 and 32 at its sides and on ledge 29 at the leading end when the gate 27 is in the fully closed position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Below the lower walls 23, 25 and 26 there is a chute like extension that is indicated, generally, at 33. Preferably the chute-like extension 33 forms an integral part of the frame 18. It is made up of chute walls 35, 36, 37 and 38 which underlie and are spaced downwardly from the upper walls 19, 20, 21 and 22 respectively.

It will be understood that a removable discharge chute (not shown) is arranged to be connected to the lower portion of the chute-like extension 33 when the gate 27 is opened for gravity discharge. In order to hold such a removable chute in position a flange 39 is provided on and extends outwardly from the lower margin of the chute wall 35 as shown more clearly in Figure 2 of the drawings. A groove 40 is formed in the lower margin of the chute wall 36. In addition a flange41, Figure 4, is provided on and extends outwardly from the lower margin of the chute wall 37 and a groove 42 is formed in the opposite chute wall 38. It will be understood that the grooves 40 and 42 are provided for receiving an outwardly extending flange on the upper end of the removable chute and that the flanges 39 and 41 are arranged to have such flange clamped or bolted thereto. 7

When handling certain commodities subject to contamination provision is made for applying a removable sanitary plate 43, Figure 4, which is received in grooves 40 and 42 and held in place against the flanges 39 and 41 by bolts 44 which extend through suitable apertures in these flanges as seen in Figure 2. Upon unloading pneumatically, a filter screen 46 may be substituted for the sanitary plate 43 as seen by reference to Figure 5 and for a purpose as will be described hereinafter.

As shown more clearly in Figure 5 of the drawings the upper wall 20 has an undersurface 47 which forms the upper side of a slot 48 the lower side of which is formed by an upper surface 49 of the chute wall 35. It will be understood that the gate 27 is movable through the slot 48 between the upper wall 20 and the chute wall 36 between the open and closed positions.

The frame 18, as shown in Figure 3, is provided on opposite sides with extension flanges 50 and 51 which project endwise from the walls 21--37 and 22-38, respectively, beyond the upper wall 20 and the sloping floor 14. Bearings 52 and 53 are carried by the extension flanges 50 and '51 for rotatably mounting an operating shaft 54. Secured to the operating shaft 54 rangees 3 to rotate therewith are pinions 55. The pinions 55, as shown in Figure 1, are spaced apart on the operating shaft 54 and are arranged to engage with rack teeth 56 ,which project downwardly from the underside of thegate .27. The arrangementis well shown in Figure 5. For rotating the operating shaft 54 an operating-head 57,

Figures 1 and 3, is secured to one end and it is provided so=-asto prevent opening movement. A sealing pin 61 is 'slidably and rotatably mounted by a support.62,-.Figure'l,

:that-is carried by the upper frame wall 29. The sealing :pin61 extends through a suitable opening in the latching dog 59 and throughakey. shaped-opening 64in the extensionlflange '50 to hold the latching dog 59 inthe latched rposition.

.5111 order to support the gate 27 in the open position .to whichlit is moved by rotation of.the shaft 54, support rails .65 and 66 are provided. The supportrails 65 and :66 i-arepreferablyrolled angle bars of appreciable thickness to provide'flange portions 67 to underlie the gate 27. The. depending flanges of the rails65 and. 66 are secured :by rivets 68 :to the extension flanges 50 and 51 of the frame 18.

In order to adapt the hopperlZ for unloading pneu- -matically there .is :provided a :conduit system which includes-acentrally disposed hood :member 69, Figure -3, extending lengthwise through the hopper 12 in the general direction of movement of the gate 27 and a transversely extending chamber 70, Figure 5, which in elfect constitutes the air inlet conduit.

The'hood member '69 is preferably of inverted V-shape with oppositely sloping walls 71-71 the lower margins 72 f which are spaced slightly from theupper face 73 of the gate 27 to provide openings 74-.74 that are exposed to the lading and through which lading is entrained into the conduit system. The exit conduit system is extended outwardly of the load containing hopper by *meansof an extension duct 75 having anend portion in the form of a tubular'nozzle 76 for connection with a source of reduced pressure (not shown). It will be understood that the hood shaped member 69-presents an open area-betweenthe lower margins 72 of .walls 71-71 and that the third side of the exit conduit is formed by "the gate 27. The air inlet section, designated as chamber 70, is formed by a sloping floor wall 77 in combination with sloping floor 13 and the sliding gate 27 forms the variable member for controlling admission of air into the conduit system.

The wall 77, which is'secured at its upper margin to the "floor 13 by welding-as indicated at 78, extends transversely between the side walls and 16 respectively and is welded thereto as indicated at 79 and '80 respectively.

Connection between the sloping walls 7,1 71 and the .wall .77-is preferably effected by welding ,as'indicated at 'l 1,81. ,Communication between the chamber '70 and l power, it will be observed "that the area of air intake is .with openings 58 for receiving a removable bar (not readily adjustable by variation in the opening movement of the gate 27.

Connection between the hood member 69 and the sloping floor 14 is effected by welding the sloping walls 71-71 to the floor 14- as indicated at 84-84 and the outer extension duct 75 in turn is provided with a flanged end 85 which underlies the outer side of sloping floor 14 and is welded thereto as indicated at 86. The wall 14 is triangularly apertured at 88 to provide for continuity of the exit conduit system between the hood portion-69 and the extension duct 75.

In order to close the outer endof the tubular nozzle 76, a cap 89 is provided and, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, it is arranged to be telescoped over the outer end of the tubular nozzle '76. The cap 89 is wedgingly held in the closed position by helical cams 90 which interfit with correspondingly shaped cam sockets 91 that are mounted on the tubular nozzle 76.

Outwardly extending lugs 92 are provided on the central portion of the cap 89 to receive a bar (not'shown) astruction is such that'a car equippedwith the conduit system of this invention can be selectively unloaded either by suction or, if the suction equipment is unavailable,:it

.can'be unloaded by gravity. Gravity unloading is accom :plished merely by swinging the latching dog 59 to the -unlatched position and apply a torque to the operating head 57 suificient to move the gate 27 from theclose'd position :toan open position along the supporting rails 'and 66. The lading within the hopper 12 then flows downwardly by gravity past the centrally disposed hood 69 through the side hopper sections lyingbetween the hood walls 71--71'and hopper side walls 15 and 16 and throughthe chute-like extension 33 into the removable chute as previously described.

Should a car be loaded with flour or similar lading liable to contamination from exterior pollution the sanitary plate 43, Figure 4, is applied at the loading station and upon arrival at destination this plate is removed prior to unloading by gravity. When pneumatic unloading is indicated the sanitary plate 43 is removed and the filter screen 46 is substituted'therefor as seen in Figure 4. The closure or gate 27 is then opened to a limited extent to separate its leading edge from the adjacent frame wall 19 and thus form' an intake opening 27 to "allow.

the entrance of air into the chamber as seen in FigureS.

After removal of cap 89, a suitable-source of suction is connected withthe tubular nozzle 76 and air is drawn through the filter screen 46 and flows through theopening 27', formed -'by withdrawal of the closure 27, into the chamber 70 and through the communicating opening 82 into the hood 69 entraining in its flow lading'frontthe adjacent hopper sections through the openings 74-74. The lading entrained in the air flows from the hood 69 through the exhaust opening 88 into the exit or extension duct and thence out of the tubular nozzle 76.

It will be understood that various types of lading can behandled and discharged pneumatically when employing the conduit system of the present invention. Therefor a-simple and efficient method for draining the conduit system when changing from one commodity to another is highly desirable. For example, various kinds of grains, flour, cement, sugar, salt and many other'similar commodities can be unloaded. Such evacuation can be accomplished in accordance with this invention by moving the closure or gate 27 to the full open position.

'The arrangement employing the sliding closure 27 in the dual 'functiomasthe control memberfor varying the air'intake and --also constituting the gravity discharge closure is not only conducive to simplicity of structure and operation but also presents a simple and convenient manner of cleaning the conduit system of any residual lading after unloading.

Since changes can be made in the foregoing construction and different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter shown in the accompanying drawings and described hereinbeforeshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In combination, a load containing hopper having an opening for gravity discharge of lading and a sliding closure for the opening, auxiliary means for pneumatically unloading the hopper including a conduit system comprising an exit conduit and means providing an air admitting chamber, hood means in said hopper placing said air admitting chamber in communication with said exit conduit, said air admitting chamber having an open side facing the sliding closure and closed thereby, said closure on being opened slightly placing said air admitting chamber in communication with the atmosphere.

2. In combination, a load containing hopper having an opening for gravity discharge of lading and a sliding closure for the opening, auxiliary means for pneumatically withdrawing lading from the hopper, said auxiliary means including a hollow hood forming an exit duct and dividing the lower portion of the hopper into two sections andmeans providing an air chamber extending crosswise of said hood and communicating with the interior thereof, said air chamber and exit duct having open areas facing said sliding closure whereby the latter extends below the hopper sections and the air chamber when said closure is in closed position, said closure on being opened slightly placing said air admitting chamber in communication with the atmosphere.

3. In combination, a load containing hopper having a discharge opening and adapted to be selectively unloaded either pneumatically or by gravity, said gravity unloading means including a sliding closure in the opening and said pneumatic means including a conduit system having a lading exit chamber and an air inlet chamber communicating with the exit chamber, said air inlet chamher having an open side facing said closure and closed on one side thereby when said closure is in closed position and volumetric control of air entering said air chamber is effected by slight movement of said sliding closure toward open position.

4. In combination, a load containing hopper having an opening for gravity discharge of lading and a sliding closure for the opening, auxiliary means for withdrawing lading from the hopper including means providing an exit duct extending centrally through the hopper and means providing an air chamber constituting an inlet duct extending transversely through the hopper above the leading edge of said closure when in closed position and communicating with said exit duct, said inlet duct having an opening facing said sliding closure and closed thereby, said closure on being opened slightly placing said inlet duct in communication with the atmosphere.

5. In combination, a load containing hopper formed in part by depending walls spaced apart to define a discharge opening, a slotted aperture in one of said walls, a sliding closure extending through said aperture for closing said discharge opening, and an exit conduit system in the hopper extending above the closure for pneumatical- 1y withdrawing lading, said exit conduit system including a hollow hood having openings exposed to the lading, and means providing a chamber at the end of the hopper remote from said slotted aperture and communicating with the interior of said hollow hood, said chamber having an open side facing said closure and closed thereby whereby upon partial movement of said closure the chamber is opened to admit entraining air into said exit conduit system.

6.,The structure according to the preceding claim wherein the closure upon continuedmovement in an opening direction beyond the air chamber-uncovers the gravity discharge opening and allows flow of lading by gravity. i

7. In combination, a load containing hopper formed by depending wall means defining a gravity discharge opening, a transversely movable gate closing said opening, said wall means having an exhaust opening, hood shaped means in said hopper above said gate secured to said wall means with the interior in communication at one end with said exhaust opening and with the lower edge of at least one side spaced from the upper surface of said gate, means at the other end of said hood shaped means providing an air chamber communicating with the interior of said hood shaped means and closed on one side by said gate, and lading and air exhaust means connected to said exhaust opening whereby on application of suction to said exhaust means and partial opening of said gate air is drawn through said air chamber into said hood shaped means and lading on said one side of said hood shaped member is drawn through the space between said lower edge thereof and the upper surface of said gate and is entrained thereby and carried out of said exhaust means.

8. The invention as set forth in claim 7 wherein the hood shaped means has two lower edges spaced from the upper surface of the gate, the lading is drawn under both when said gate is partly open, and the air is drawn over the end of said gate away from the wall means provided with the exhaust opening.

9. In combination, a load containing hopper formed by four depending walls defining a discharge opening, a frame surrounding said discharge opening and secured to said hopper walls, a gate movably mounted on said frame for closing said discharge opening, one of said hopper walls having an exhaust opening, hood shaped. means in said hopper secured at one end to said one hopper wall with the interior in communication with said exhaust opening and with the lower edges of the sides spaced from the upper surface of said gate and dividing said hopper into sections at said sides of said hood shaped means, a wall spaced from the wall opposite said one wall and defining therewith an air chamber communicating with said interior of said hood shaped, means and closed on the bottom by said gate, lading and exhaust means connected to said exhaust opening whereby on application of suction to said exhaust means and partial opening of said gate air is drawn through said air chamber into said hood shaped means and lading at said sides of said hood shaped member is drawn through the spaces between said lower edges thereof and the upper surface of said gate and is entrained thereby and is carried out of said exhaust means, and means for moving said gate away from closing position to permit discharge of lading as aforesaid or by gravity past said sides of said hood shaped means through said discharge opening.

10. In combination, a load containing hopper formed by four depending walls defining a discharge opening having at least one pair of opposite walls inclined toward said opening, a frame surrounding said discharge opening and secured to said hopper walls, a gate movably mounted on said frame for closing said discharge opening, one of said opposite walls having an exhaust opening below which said gate moves to open position, hood shaped means in said hopper secured at one end to said one hopper wall with the interior in communication with said exhaust opening and with the lower edges of the sides spaced from the upper surface of said gate and dividing said hopper into sections at said sides of said hood shaped means, an inclined floor spaced from the other of said pair of walls and defining therewith an air chamber communicating with said interior of said hood shaped means and closed on the bottom by said gate, lading and exhaust means connected to said exhaust opening whereby on application of suction to said exhaust means and partial opening of said gate air is drawn over 'theend of said -=gate away-from said wall having said exhaust opening discharge opening.

'sides and end o-f said hood shaped means through said through said air -c'han 1 ber into said 'hoo'd shaped means 'and lading'at said sides of said hood shaped member is R f (I't d-in tl1e fil of .th' at nt drawn through thespaces between said lower edgesthereof :6 erences e 6 18 p andthe'upper surface of said gate and is entrained there- UNITED STATES "PATENTS by and is carried out of saidexhaust means, and means fo r movingsaid gate away from closing position'to per- 2,190,727 McKenna 1940 mit dischargeof la'ding as aforesaid or by gravity past said 2,745,563 Dath May 15, 1956 AWn- N 

